Nature pics

[sonnetpete]

TBH, it spooked me at first. There's a large cow shed in that direction and I thought it was a light inside but when it started to get bigger I realised what it must be. I've actually seen one or two here but never in a position with a relatively clear horizon.

 

[Topper]

Sunset this evening from my bedroom window

 

[Topper]

The first picture is of Lake Tiberius also known as the Sea of Galilee, it is the lowest freshwater lake in the world at 214 mtrs below sea level, but is strange because it experiences tides and has waves.

The second picture is of the lowest inhabited place on earth, the Dead Sea at 423mtrs below Sea Level, hot is an understatement here even after the 47C experienced in the Arava Desert this place was seriously hot, mainly due to the humidity no doubt

 

[Lazarus]

So, the guy with the hat ............... it isn't a Topper, is it?

 

[Piltdownpaul]

A few pics in the garden this morning

The increasingly rare house sparrow.....


My peony which opened on Friday....


Finally one of the clematis' opened yesterday...

 

[Piltdownpaul]

A bumper (late) year for peonies.....



Signs of colour from the missus hanging baskets.....

 

[rolfw]

Garden warbler in my sister's garden near Chartres, the only decent photo from the trip.

 

[Topper]

@ Piltdownpaul crumbs mine are still just buds ATM

@ Rolfw It may be the only decent one Rolf but it is a cracker

 

[Captain Jack]

The increasingly rare house sparrow.....

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Why rare? They are as common as muck over in Russia..

 

[Lazarus]

They've been in rapid decline in Great Britain over the past few years.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I get more blue,great and coal tits, various finches than house sparrows. I've only seen 2 tree sparrows all summer last year. We have 2 male and 3 female house sparrows visiting every morning at the moment. i'm sure they are laughing at my cat.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

They've been in rapid decline in Great Britain over the past few years.

I'm not liking the fact that they are declining but the fact they folks havent realized how they have disappeared in the last 20 years. I remember in the 1980s being a young budding ornithologist and setting up feeding stations in the back garden. They would fill up massively with sparrows with the tits, finches etc not getting a look in on the feeders, my how things have changed. Back then i had no time for sparrows, they were ten a penny but now when you study them their markings can be very distinctive. A remarkable bird going through a hard time , i just wonder why they have declined, probably a combination of factors....

 

[Lazarus]

We are privileged in our N.York Moors Village to still see many species once common but now in decline, plus quite a few that urbanites will probably never see, That said, we have no Parakeets!


(Or Bananas)


PS: Saw a Redstart this evening.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

In the 80's there were a few ring necked parakeets about ,i think some were released down south if i remember rightly and they spread north up to the midlands. I'm sure they didnt survive the poor winters we've been having though.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

This mornings efforts....

Mr Coal Tit. "You looking at me?"


"Clear to land.."

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Posing greenfinch (male)


Female house sparrow take off.... (for those interested in photography 1/2500th of a sec ISO 3200 on a 300mm zoom 15 foot away. Its too dark today to have a quicker shutter with this zoom or i would have done!!)

 

[RimaNTSS]

Nightingales made a nest in my garage, 6 chicks. And car always has some sh*t on O-no

 

[RimaNTSS]

Sorry, Google translated right but I entered wrong bird's name. Of course they are swallows, but that do not reduce amount of droppings. Now when I torn off lights they start to tweet.

 

[rolfw]

Well all I can say is consider yourself honoured, these little birds fly sometimes thousands of miles just to return to your place year after year, think of yourself as a proud uncle.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Tonights sunset, not the greatest panorama but the colours are nice..

Taken 5 mins ago....